Rick Cochran Pursuing County Commissioner, District 4 Position With Leadership Through Service

By Brock Mikosky

The campaign slogan reads “leadership through service” and that is what voters get from Rick Cochran, candidate for Hillsborough County Commission, District 4. After spending six years in the United States Air Force, five of which were spent overseas, Cochran joined the Tampa Police Department. Over the next 24 years he held various leadership roles within the department. He was the Domestic Violence Coordinator for the entire department, founded the Criminal Tracking unit, which tracked the most hardened offenders, and was elected by his peers to serve as Vice President of the Tampa Police Benevolent Association. Cochran retired in January of 2014 and has spent his time campaigning.

Throughout his time with the Police Benevolent Association, Cochran enjoyed the opportunity to work with local, county and state government while advocating for local law enforcement officers. With retirement on the horizon, Cochran knew that he wanted to continue to serve his community as he had his entire career, and he decided to run for County Commissioner.

“Not being a career politician or someone who is seeking a paycheck has been extremely well received,” said Cochran. “The voters have really responded well to my background of public service and my common sense approach to problem solving. They know that they can trust my word.”

Listen, learn, evaluate and decide will always be the process that Cochran uses while representing his constituents. They are the only special interest group that will have influence over his decisions. Although his core conservative principles of smaller, more efficient government and keeping the burden off of the taxpayers will always be in his heart, it is his desire to represent the wishes of his constituents that will serve him best.

Cochran is looking forward to continuing his lifetime of service on behalf of the residents of eastern Hillsborough County.

Cochran lives in Wimauma with his wife Karen and has two adult daughters.